88 TC Dual Cooling fans... October 18, 2006, 10:55:31 PM *sigh* I just keep finding more wrong with this car...Back in Summer, on those lovely sweltering days, I noticed my 'coupe would run and run until it got very warm, but I never heard the fans kick on. I popped the hood, let it run, and watched to see if they moved... nothing... now if the AC's on, my secondary will run but only because the high side switch is being activated at like 310 psi or whatever the book says then kick off as soon as it drops, otherwise it'll peg the dash gauge after 15-20 mins and never turn on either fan.I've investigated the IRCM, and until today thought it to be bad... but I started tracing wiring schematics, and found the main fan's relay trigger wire from the ECU [EEC, etc...] to the IRCM... it's a solid pink wire on the right side of the plug in the 5th hole up from the bottom (looking at the back of the plug from the front of the car, still attached to the IRCM) If I ground out this wire, the relay in the IRCM clicks and the fan runs like it should.So I'd like to know, where does the ECU get the info to decide when to ground this wire? and Could a faulty ECU be to blame for why the fan doesn't run? I've double checked my relay now, it's good, the fan motor's good, and even the wiring is great...Should I just change the ECU? Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #1 – October 22, 2006, 01:16:42 AM Try NATOhttp://www.turbotbird.com/FAQpage/FAQpage.htmhttp://www.turbotbird.com/techinfo/techarticles.html Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #2 – October 22, 2006, 02:26:29 AM ECU Gets its info from the Coolant sensor in the lower intake. It sits right between the 3rd and 4th injectors. That could be the problem. Also the small coolant fitting and small hose from the lower intake (fitting on the lower intake) could be clogged up with , causing issuficiant flow over the sensor. Try the above links that Ether gave ya and have at it. Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #3 – October 22, 2006, 06:50:44 PM Well, I tried NATO (that was about the first place I went when I got the car) and followed all their tests... and after all was said and done I thought it was the IRCM that was bad, considering even the EEC code self test wouldn't kick them on. But once I started looking through my Chilton's wiring diagrams, I found that wire that if grounded, runs the relay and fan...Doesn't the coolant temp sensor also affect the temp gauge? I know right now my gauge is about accurate, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to change that sensor. And that pipe/hose is fine, I actually blew that the first week I had the car... this was because of the fan of course, as well as the moron who had the car befor me ran a hose too long from there to the tube by the oil cooler, so that the hose rested on the oil filter... and it exploded in my driveway in the middle of july after getting home from work I guess I'll change the sensor tomorrow... if nothing else, then I guess my last choice is an ECU swap, eh? Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #4 – October 23, 2006, 12:21:14 AM There are two sensors. One operates the gauge (called a sending unit) and one gives info to the ECU (called an engine coolant temperature sensor, or ECT) Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #5 – October 23, 2006, 03:45:06 AM Thats correct. Test the sensor. It may not throw a code if it is bad. Also, throwing parts at a car to fix a problem will just lighten your wallet. If you take a logical step by step breakdown of what is going on, you should be able to determine your problem. And just for the record, I seriously doubt its the EEC. They are pretty durable. Plus, there are a lot of things that could be wrong other than that. The EEC about the last thing i would expect. Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #6 – October 23, 2006, 09:28:45 AM The TC/Sport buttstuffogue gages are junk... They'll often read full scale when temp is actually normal... First off you need to verify the actual temp with a trustworthy gage or thermometer in the radiator filler(you can leave the cap off for tests). The upper fan should activate at 210*, while the lower kicks it at 225*(if the upper is working, the lower will never activate.. unless you are using the AC or temp has reached 225*. Not likely to happen in cool wearher)If the upper hasn't kicked in by 220* or so then you likely have a out of spec temp sensor(between 2&3 inj),the EEC or its wiring may be faulty(you've already stated the fan runs when grounding the pink wire which rules out the IRCM)... Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #7 – October 23, 2006, 10:53:43 AM Quote from: Thunder Chicken;109627There are two sensors. One operates the gauge (called a sending unit) and one gives info to the ECU (called an engine coolant temperature sensor, or ECT)Where is the ECU sensor? The one between the Injectors? And where is the other one located as well? Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #8 – October 23, 2006, 07:29:20 PM Re-read the post you already quoted from. And just for the record, I told you this 3 posts ago, even though i was off by the location of the ECT sensor by one injector. Contact Pete D over on nato for the specs and proceedure for testing this sensor.Quote from: If the upper hasn't kicked in by 220* or so then you likely have a out of spec [B[SIZE="5"]temp sensor(between 2&3 inj)[/SIZE][/B],the EEC or its wiring may be faulty(you've already stated the fan runs when grounding the pink wire which rules out the IRCM)... :beatyoass: Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #9 – October 23, 2006, 08:16:31 PM Quote from: Birdman;109721Re-read the post you already quoted from. And just for the record, I told you this 3 posts ago, even though i was off by the location of the ECT sensor by one injector. Contact Pete D over on nato for the specs and proceedure for testing this sensor. :beatyoass: Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #10 – October 30, 2006, 05:29:40 PM What Joy... I put a new sensor in today (the one between the injectors) and let it idle forever, watching the gauge climb just about to the H mark... and still nothing!!! I am about at wits end with this car... any ideas??? Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #11 – November 05, 2006, 12:52:30 PM Quote from: TurboChicken;110783What Joy... I put a new sensor in today (the one between the injectors) and let it idle forever, watching the gauge climb just about to the H mark... and still nothing!!! I am about at wits end with this car... any ideas???Nope.... But a few days ago, I ran my red TC for the first time in over a year... After the gage finally reached the red zone, the lower fan did kick on, so looks like it has a bad fan or controller issue...As I stated in a earlier post... You need to verify the actual temp before deeming the system defective... Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #12 – November 05, 2006, 03:47:06 PM I said to hell with it, and set up my own fan and fan controller. Got rid of the big, ugly fans, and kept the car cooler. Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #13 – November 08, 2006, 01:11:04 AM Quote from: Tbird232ci;111718I said to hell with it, and set up my own fan and fan controller. Got rid of the big, ugly fans, and kept the car cooler.Could you send me some pics of your setup? I need some help deciding which I'd rather do... Take it to Ford or swap in say, a Taurus fan with an aftermarket controller...? Quote Selected
88 TC Dual Cooling fans... Reply #14 – November 08, 2006, 02:29:42 AM I'm not sure about 87-88 but the 83-86 had a seprate sensor for the fan. It is called a Thermal Fan Switch. The one on the top side of the lower intake is for the ECU the one for the gauge is right above the ol filter. The thermal fan switch is located in the bottom of the lower intake or in one of the water lines on the intake side of the motor. Still once again not sure how it is setup on the 87-88 I do know the ECu controlls the fan where in the 83-86 they had a external fan contoller. I my self couldn't get my 84 setup to work right and the fan motor need to be replaced so I just went after market. I bought 2 hayden fans and there fully adjustable controller. I haven't had a problem since. The fans are about 1 & 1/2" thick they move alot of air. I don't have any pic of them installed just because I don't have any pics of my raditator. Quote Selected
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